Nine kilometres to hope: A mother struggles to save her daughter’s life in Somalia
“Seeing my daughter slipping away, I had no choice but to find help, no matter the distance or cost.”
In rural Somalia, Madina remembers the night her two-year-old daughter, Sahara*, fell dangerously ill. Without transport, money, or easy access to healthcare, she feared the worst.
Madina, 25, lives with her husband and four young children in a remote village nine kilometres from Baidoa City. The family owns a small piece of land where they grow maize, beans, and vegetables, but their harvest is barely enough to feed themselves. With little rain and dried-up shallow wells, water and food are scarce, and the village’s isolation makes getting urgent medical care extremely difficult.
When Sahara became critically ill, stopped feeding, developed a fever, and swelling in her face and feet, Madina was overwhelmed with worry. With no money for hospital fees or medicine, Madina waited, hoping her daughter would recover on her own. But Sahara’s condition worsened.
Lifesaving care at Baidoa District Hospital
It was neighbours who had previously received compassionate care at Baidoa District Hospital, run by SOS Children’s Villages, who encouraged Madina to bring Sahara there.
Upon arrival, Sahara was immediately examined and diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition, with a mid-upper arm circumference of 10.4 cm, well below the 11.5 cm emergency threshold used to identify life-threatening malnutrition. She was feverish, unconscious, and fighting infections.
The medical team quickly administered intravenous fluids and began Sahara's treatment with antibiotics and specialized nutrition at the hospital’s Stabilization Centre. She was fed therapeutic milk, a medical formula used to stabilize severely malnourished children. Gradually, her condition improved, and by the third day, she was conscious, communicating, and able to sit up independently. Once stabilized, she transitioned to a higher-energy milk formula, which helps children regain strength and immunity. Meanwhile, Madina received daily meals and guidance to support Sahara’s recovery at home.
A path to recovery and hope
After five days of intensive care, Sahara regained her ability to walk. She was transferred to the Outpatient Therapeutic Program, where she will receive weekly Plumpy’Nut sachets, a peanut-based, highly nutritious, energy-dense food to aid her recovery at home.
Madina’s family is filled with relief and gratitude as Sahara grows stronger each day.
The hospital in Baidoa admits children with severe acute malnutrition almost daily, most from remote villages and internally displaced person (IDP) camps, where they receive urgent, specialized treatment they could not otherwise access.
"I am deeply grateful to the nurses and doctors who cared for my daughter. Thanks to the free services and hospitality, Sahara is alive and getting better. I never imagined this could be possible."
Why your support matters
With your generosity, children like Sahara are not left behind. Timely medical care and nutrition can mean the difference between life and death for children facing severe malnutrition.
Health programs, like the one that helped Sahara, provide emergency treatment, therapeutic food, and follow-up care so children can recover and regain their strength. These interventions do more than treat illness; they restore hope and give children the chance to grow, learn, and thrive.
Donate today to help ensure children like Sahara receive lifesaving care.
*Name changed to protect privacy